A final appeal

It’s hard to imagine that any of our Dartmouth readers have not yet voted in the Association of Alumni election. But just in case there are any of you out there, or if our non-Dartmouth readers have Dartmouth friends they feel comfortable talking about this with, I’m making a final appeal.

The election is between the Parity Slate (which I am a member of) and what I call the capitulation slate. The Parity Slate favors preserving the right of Dartmouth alumni to elect half of the college’s trustees. The trustees, without notice to or consultation with the alumni, deprived the alumni of that right, which was established by a written agreement more than 100 years ago. Thus, preserving the right required a lawsuit, which the Association of Alumni proceeded to file. A preliminary ruling from a New Hampshire court strongly suggests that the suit is meritorious.

The capitulation slate has promised to end the lawsuit. This will leave the trustees free to violate the college’s agreement and to implement its board-packing plan. Ther intention to do so is plain. Indeed, but for the lawsuit, the trustees would have packed the board already.

You can vote online at http://www.voxthevote.org. You’ll need a PIN. If you don’t have one, you can call Anita at 603-646-2258. If she doesn’t answer, leave a message.